Dermot Kennedy battling for Number 1 on the Official Irish Singles Chart with Meduza collaboration Paradise

Dermot Kennedy is battling for Number 1 on the Official Irish Singles Chart for the third time in his career.

The Dublin singer-songwriter's new single Paradise - a collaboration with production trio Meduza - is at Number 2 on today's Official Irish Chart Update, and is the most downloaded new release of the week so far.

Dermot has come close to topping Ireland's national Top 50 on two previous occasions, with Outnumbered and Giants both peaking at Number 2 in August 2019 and July 2020 respectively.

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Standing in Dermot's way is Ariana Grande, who is hoping to hold onto the top spot for a second straight week with her seventh Number 1 Positions. However, just 127 chart sales separate the two, so the Number 1 is either act's for the taking.

If Dermot can turn the tide and overtake Ariana Grande, he'll become the first Irish act to reach Number 1 on the Official Irish Singles Chart in over five years.

Boyband Hometown were the last Irish act to lead the Top 50 in March 2015 with their second single Cry For Help. The last homegrown solo artist to top the Irish Singles Chart was Finbar Furey in August 2013 with The Last Great Love Song.

The cut-off for sales and streams to count towards this week’s chart is 11:59pm on Thursday (Nov. 5). This week's final Official Irish Singles and Albums Charts will be published on OfficialCharts.com/Ireland at 3pm on Friday (Nov. 6). Listen to The Official Chart every Friday on RTÉ 2FM with Bláthnaid Treacy at 7pm.

© IRMA